Welcome to the seventeenth installment of Comic Book Cover-Up! Every week, We the Nerdy writer Henry Varona weighs in on his choices for the best comic book covers coming out this week, along with some great honorable mentions worth checking out! Looking at the layout, artistic talent, and the overall craftsmanship, the covers are analyzed and ranked accordingly. At the end, each book will be given points based on their ranking. Then Henry adds up points for the various series, which will work towards earning further accolades in the future! Here’s a point breakdown for what every ranking will earn:
- First-10 Points
- Second-7 Points
- Third- 5 Points
- Fourth and Fifth- 3 Points Each
- Still Gorgeous- 1 Point Each
So without further ado, here’s the week’s best!
5. Doc Savage 6 by John Cassiday (Featured Image)
Doc Savage is a classic character in pulp comics. The quintessential action hero, he often ventures into extreme situations to fact the unknown. Here we see Doc running into action, juxtaposed against a circuit board. The cover design is straightforward but the sheer talent of John Cassiday really sells the image, making Doc look bold and daring, but also out of his element. After all, he is wearing clothes fit for entering the jungles of the 1940’s, not the modern landscape of technology. And it is that simple design choice that really makes the image cool.
4. Judge Dredd Mega-City Two 5 by Darick Robertson
Judge Dredd has a signature sneer that is unparalleled in comics. He always looks completely miserable and ready to bust some heads in. Clint Eastwood too manages this feat, always looking grumpier and tougher than anybody around. That comparison makes the cover to Mega-City Two 5 look so great, as Dredd does his best Clint Eastwood impression ala Magnum Force. The homage is subtle to those unfamiliar, yet the image still works, as Dredd holds onto his gun with a serious intent. It’s for those who know the true background of the image that will get to enjoy the full glory.
3. Cyclops 2 by John Tyler Christopher
Cyclops is an incredible character with a wealth of great stories, always told through the lens of the X-Men. For the first time, Cyclops has his own ongoing series and there’s no telling where this crazy book will go. As it stands, it is the perfect team-up book with Corsair, his space-pirate daddy. Here, John Tyler Christopher shows off how awesome these two heroes can be, streamlining them in black and white. Their images look ready for battle, and the precise linework and shadows make the cover look like a classic action poster. Complete with dorky Corsair 80’s headband.
2. Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man 2 by Amy Reeder
What impresses me the most about the Amy Reeder variant to Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, is the warped perspective that Reeder provides for the image. Miles is soaring high through the skies and his world is bending as much as his very flexible body. The curved buildings that shoot up into infinity make for a very surreal sight. You practically get sick just looking at this cover, where Miles seems oblivious to the peril around him and enjoys the rare moment of tranquility before he enters the mayhem once more. Incredible work from Reeder, who should really do more Spider-Man work.
1. Clone 17 by Juan Jose Ryp
I know absolutely nothing about Clone and suddenly I want to know everything. If that is not an immediate sign of a great cover, I don’t know what is. The art styling of Juan Jose Ryp is in full effect here, as he draws this man in a complete huff, mad at the world he’s stuck in. The framing of the shot does half of the work for Ryp, as it isolates him from everybody expect for the reader, who is allowed to take him in. The amount of detail that Ryp is able to use for the image is phenomenal, from the labels of the boots to the pieces of tape holding the posters on the walls. These details add so much dimension to the image and give it staying power.
Still Gorgeous:
- Batman ’66 Meets Green Hornet 1 by Alex Ross
- Black Widow 7 by Phil Noto
- Doc Savage 6 by Alex Ross
- Great Pacific 15 by Steve Rolston
- Rai 2 by Bart Sears
As a side note, sorry for the delay on this posting. I just moved so this had to take a back seat but I refused not to do it out of sheer principle! As a result, here it is! Be sure to check back soon for things to return to schedule!
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